Dec 26, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Tim Beckman on the field before the game against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in the Heart of Dallas Bowl at Cotton Bowl Stadium. Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas fired head coach Tim Beckman on Friday, just one week before the start of the 2015 football season.
Thomas cited preliminary results of an external review into allegations involving the mistreatment of players.
“The preliminary information external reviewers shared with me does not reflect our values or our commitment to the welfare of our student-athletes, and I’ve chosen to act accordingly,” Thomas said in a statement. “During the review, we have asked people not to rush to judgment, but I now have enough information to make this decision in assessing the status and direction of the football program.”
Thomas said he has met with players and staff to inform them of the decision.
A Chicago-based law firm has been looking into charges made by some former players that they were mistreated and they were forced to play while injured.
During a preliminary briefing from the external reviewers, Thomas said he learned of efforts to deter injury reporting and influence medical decisions that pressured players to avoid or postpone medical treatment and continue playing despite injuries. He also said in some instances student-athletes were treated inappropriately with respect to whether they could remain on scholarship during the spring semester of their senior year if they weren’t on the team.
“Both of those findings are unsettling violations of University policy and practice and do not reflect the culture that we wish to create in athletic programs for our young people,” Thomas said. “I expect my coaches to protect players and foster their success on and off the field.”
Thomas said Beckman will not receive the $3.1 million remaining on the last two years of his original five-year contract or the $743,000 called for if his contract had been bought out.
Beckman’s record in three years as head coach was 12-25 overall, 4-20 in Big Ten Conference games. He led Illinois to the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl in December 2014.
Illinois opens the season next Friday against Kent State.
